Astana, 3 November. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, by decree, relieved Nurlan Sauranbayev of the post of transport minister and appointed Asel Zhanasova Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Akorda reported.
The first decree came out at 18:07 Astana time, the second at 18:14.
The appointment decree says Zhanasova has been relieved of her previous post; Akorda did not say which. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov introduced the new deputy prime minister to the ministry’s staff and thanked Sauranbayev for his contribution to developing the transport sector. The government recalled that Zhanasova has headed the Zerde holding and Kazpost, served as vice minister of trade and integration, adviser to the President and deputy head of the Presidential Administration.
Bektenov recalled that the President has declared next year a year of large-scale construction, which includes transport infrastructure. “The tasks before us are clear. Given the country’s geographical position, we must use the existing potential as efficiently as possible. Large projects are planned to be launched in every area of the transport sector next year. We must ensure they are carried out well and on time,” he said. The ministry’s named priorities are high-quality construction of national and local roads, roadside infrastructure, completing the reconstruction of road border crossings in 2027, and strengthening Kazakhstan’s position as Eurasia’s main transport and logistics hub.
What it means: The transport ministry has a new head and a higher rank: the minister is now also a deputy prime minister. The reasons for Sauranbayev’s departure are not stated in the reports.
Who benefits: The sector and projects the new deputy prime minister will lead: roads, border crossings, new airports and railways are named in the plans, but the division of powers is not disclosed. No other beneficiaries can be named: the sources do not name them.
Background: On the morning of 3 November the Ministry of Transport reported that Sauranbayev, as minister, had received the Azerbaijani ambassador and an AZCON Holding representative, and that Samruk-Kazyna and AZCON had signed an agreement on the Caspian Bridge project.
